Martel: Mass migration if 1.5C target is not met

Fiji hosts 5th Asia-Pacific Parliamentarian Forum on Global Health

FIJI becomes the first Pacific Island country to host the Asia-Pacific Parliamentarian Forum on Global Health. While welcoming delegates to the 5th Asia-Pacific Parliamentarian Forum on Global Health in Nadi, President Jioji Konrote said “Fiji, like the rest of our friends in the Pacific, are experiencing and witnessing the adverse impacts of climate change and...

Leaders end meeting

PACIFIC Islands Forum leaders concluded the 50th PIF Leaders Meeting in consensus but with qualifications. This was revealed by the chair of the meeting and Tuvaluan Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga. The qualifications meant that not all forum leaders agreed with the recommendations put forward by the smaller island states (SIS). The SIS had endorsed the...

PIF leaders to be a voice for all climate-vulnerable people

PRIME Minister Voreqe Bainimarama along with fellow Pacific heads of Government will continue to push the region’s largest carbon emitter to transition from coal to clean energy. Mr Bainimarama highlighted this while addressing the Fijian media at the end of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meeting. He said they will continue to be a voice...

USP Tuvalu campus new satellite commissioned

THE new satellite for the University of the South Pacific (USP) Tuvalu Campus was commissioned by the New Zealand Minister for Pacific People, Aupito William on Tuesday, August 13, 2019. Dr Giulio Paunga, USP Vice-President Regional Campuses and Estates and Infrastructure said the event, “marks the accomplishment of our dream that we believe will make...

No accord after 12 hours of talks

PRIME Minister Voreqe Bainimarama is disappointed that Pacific Islands Forum leaders could not reach a consensus after 12 hours of talks during the Leaders Retreat on Thursday. In a statement yesterday, Mr Bainimarama said while there has been a great deal of agreement in Funafuti, it was clear that there were differences of opinion, emphasis...

Leaders did their best, says Sopoaga

FORUM leaders worked to the best they could, says chair of the 50th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting and Tuvaluan Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga. Mr Sopoaga said the 18 forum leaders brought their common interests and their own national interests and as chair he appreciated the contribution of all leaders. Responding to Prime Minister Voreqe...

Australia reaffirms stand

AUSTRALIA will stand with its Pacific family when it comes to issues affecting the region such as climate change, says Prime Minister Scott Morrison. During a press conference in Funafuti, Tuvalu yesterday, Mr Morrison reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to meeting carbon emission targets because of the impact global warming was having on Pacific Island nations. “They’re...

Fiji welcomes commitment by all PIF members

FIJI welcomes the commitment by all Pacific Island Forum members to cap global warming at no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above that of the pre-industrial age. Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said this in a statement at the conclusion of the PIF meeting in Tuvalu. “This was the cornerstone of our Suva Declaration five years...

50th PIF Leaders Meeting: Morrison dance the night away despite strong opposition

DESPITE a strong opposition from Pacific countries during the Pacific Islands Forum Retreat yesterday, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison spent the rest of the night on Thursday dancing away to the Tuvaluan “Fatele”with his Tuvaluan counterpart Enele Sopoaga and Nauru President Baron Waqa. Speaking after their performance, Mr Sopoaga said the Tuvaluan government had worked...

NGOs call for UN frontline protection on climate change

PACIFIC civil society organisations have urged leaders attending this week’s Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Funafuti, Tuvalu to call on the United Nations General Assembly for the protection of those on the frontline of climate change. Presenting on behalf of the CSOs, Teina Mackenzie, the president of the Te Ipukarea Society — the longest...

Fiji backs 10-year ban on seabed mining

FIJI has lent its support to the 10-year moratorium on seabed mining to allow for a decade of proper scientific research of economic zones and territorial waters. Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama confirmed Fiji’s stand while commenting on the presentation by civil society organisations during the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting on Wednesday. “I reiterate my...

‘Ice fuelling domestic violence’

WOMEN’S crisis centres are reporting an increase in domestic violence cases linked to the use of the illicit drug methamphetamine. Revealing this, Tarita Holm, the executive director of Palau Association of NGOs, said the Oceania Customs Organisation reported that there were increasing border detections and widespread prevalence of street-level possession and distribution of methamphetamine, presenting...

Ardern sides with PSIDS; Bainimarama reveals in a Tweet

NEW Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has sided with Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) as negotiations continue between Pacific Islands Forum Leaders on the final communique. Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama made the revelation in a Tweet on his official Twitter account saying that when combatting climate change, it was good to have an ally...

50th PIF Leaders Meeting: Fiji reaffirms support to the people of West Papua

PRIME Minister Voreqe Bainimarama today reaffirmed Fiji’s continuing support to the people of West Papua on the alleged human rights violations in West Papua. Mr Bainimarama said he respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, including Indonesia. In supporting the vision of a Blue Pacific, Mr Bainimarama said that Fiji supports the 10...

50th PIF Leaders Meeting: Bainimarama reaffirms support on issues raised by CSOs

FIJI acknowledges the invaluable role of civil society organisations at the national, regional and global levels in complementing the efforts of Governments. Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said this while reaffirming his support to issues raised by the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in his remarks during a dialogue with Forum Leaders in Tuvalu today. Mr Bainimarama...

50th PIF Leaders Meeting: Regional heads on a retreat

LEADERS of the 18 member states of the Pacific Islands Forum are currently having their retreat at Teavamago in Funafuti, Tuvalu. Following their deliberation, the PIF Secretariat will release the communique of the the 50th PIF leaders meeting. Climate change is expected to be the top issue in the meeting’s communique to released later this...

Leaders strongly endorse Tuvalu declaration

LEADERS of Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) have strongly endorsed the Tuvalu Declaration for the Survival of PSIDS ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting that started on Tuesday. The declaration was tabled at the Tuvaluan government’s Climate Change Sautalaga in Funafuti, Tuvalu on Monday. It was endorsed by the PSIDS leaders after their...

Young woman pleads for youth’s voices to be heard

A YOUNG Tuvaluan woman is hoping that the plight of her people will be seriously taken into consideration as leaders of the 18 member states of the Pacific Islands Forum meet in Funafuti this week. The 20-year-old was born in Fiji and grew up in Suva. Nanoua Ewekia moved to Tuvalu in 2017 where she...

‘Drug trade overtaking region’

RETURNING to the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting this week in Funafuti, Tuvalu, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama used the platform to call for an urgent need to tackle the illicit drug trade slowly overtaking the region. In his comments after the presentation by civil society organisations during the forum leaders meeting yesterday, Mr Bainimarama said...

PM Bainimarama urges Pacific leaders not to think small

PRIME MINISTER Voreqe Bainimarama has urged the regional leaders not to think small as climate change demands vision, leadership and innovation. Speaking at the 50th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting in Funafuti, Tuvalu today, Mr Bainimarama has challenged the region to embark on a region wide public- private initiative that he says can transform a...

50th PIF Leaders Meeting: Morrison, Ardern arrive into Tuvalu

AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Ardern have arrived into Funafuti, Tuvalu for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting. The two leaders who landed at Funafuti International Airport this afternoon were greeted by a group of young Tuvaluan children chanting to the mantra, “Save Tuvalu, Save the World.” Prime Minister...

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